Mourners at the funeral of Hrant Dink in Istanbul. Photograph: Murad Sezer/AP

On January 19 2007 the Turkish-Armenian writer and editor Hrant Dink, aged 52, was assassinated outside the Istanbul offices of his weekly newspaper Agos. He was a prominent advocate of the Armenian minority in Turkey, who sought to create a dialogue between Turks and Armenians.

I met Dink last March at a writers' conference in Istanbul. He struck me then as a kind, open, quietly courageous man. Although many of us from the international writers' organisation PEN were concerned for his safety, I don't think any of us suspected that he would pay with his life for his convictions.

In his last article, published on the day he died, Dink wrote "Yes, I can feel myself as restless as a dove but I know that in this country people do not touch and disturb the doves. The doves continue their lives in the middle of the cities. Yes indeed a bit frightened but at the same time free."

Dink was charged a number of times under the strict Turkish penal code for "denigrating Turkey" and "insulting Turkish identity". More recently, in July 2006, Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence for "insulting Turkish identity" for an article on the Armenian diaspora. He has always maintained that his aim was to alleviate the tensions between Turkey and Armenia. A week later, a new case opened against Dink. Like the novelist Orhan Pamuk, he was due to stand trial under Article 301 of Turkey's penal code, for referring to the 1915 massacre of Armenians as "genocide" during an interview. Dink was awaiting trial for these charges at the time of his death.

Dink was evidently considered a traitor by Turkish ultra-nationalists. Just before his assassination, the journalist had apparently complained of death threats he was receiving from nationalists, and had appealed to the Turkish authorities for these to be taken seriously. Tragically they were not.

According to PEN, Article 301 has repeatedly marked writers, journalists and publishers out as targets for attack, making it even more urgent that this law is repealed. To be charged under Article 301 is to be branded an enemy of Turkey, to become a figure of hate and a target for fanatics and extremists. The law is completely contrary to international standards protecting the right to freedom of expression and endangers the lives of those charged under it.

On Tuesday, thousands of people marched in a funeral procession for the murdered journalist in Istanbul, many holding placards and protest slogans calling for expanded freedom of speech. Today the Armenian National Committee has organised a vigil outside the Turkish embassy for anyone who would like to express their support in London.

~ Readers may also like to show their support by emailing the Turkish government and calling for justice for the murder of Hrant Dink and for the urgent repeal of Article 301. Send to: turkishemb@btclick.net, Head of Mission, Turkish embassy: His Excellency Mr Akin Alptuna, fao prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.